Polarized light actuated remote control system for wells



S. 8. BROWN April 3, 1962 POLARIZED LIGHT ACTUATED REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WELLS w 5: W m J I 5: t m m A a i 1 6 MW #0. mi f u i d B E 0 w E; w 5 7 S m I i: m M 4 ll v L 2 a m w M 4 Q m: F. 0% v {a}. Q 5 5: M: i L 1 f: f Lv United States Patent 3,027,945 POLARIZED LIGHT ACTUATED REMOTE CON- TROL SYSTEM FOR WELLS Stephen S. Brown, La Porte, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,457 4 Claims. (Cl. 166-75) This invention relates to remote control systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a means for remotely shutting off the flow of fluids through fluid lines contained on an offshore structure.

In the operation of offshore oil and gas producing structures, fires and/or heavy winds have forced the men on the structure to leave or prevented them from returning. Due to the haste of departure, the pumpers responsible for shutting off the various valves contained in the many fiowlines have either been unable to, or forgotten to shut off the valves. This results in unnecessary loss.

Thus, it is highly desirable that a means be presented the art for remotely actuating the valves contained in the fiowlines for shutting off the valves as quickly as possible and before the equipment on the offshore platform has been completely destroyed.

If producing wells are opera-ting at the time of the fire or other hazard, it is highly important that the production 'be shut off.

This invention is a remote control system for shutting oif the production of oil and gases from an offshore oil and gas well and for shutting off various other flowlines.

Briefly described, the invention comprises the combination of a fluid flow control diaphragm valve in the flowline. and a gas line for controlling the diaphragm valve. An electrically operated valve for controlling the flow of gas in the gas line also controls a bleed line which is opened by the electrical actuation of the valve. The electrically operated valve is remotely actuated. Upon actuation of the electrically actuated valve, it shuts off the flow of gas to the control diaphragm valve and opens the bleed line to bleed the gas remaining in the gas line. The control diaphragm valve then closes to prevent further flow in the main fiowline.

The invention as well as its many advantages may be further understood by reference to the following detailed description and single drawing which is a schematic diagram illustrating my invention.

Referring to the figure, an offshore platform is shown supported above the water line 12 by supports 14.

An oil and gas producing well 16 is shown traversing an oil and gas producing formation 18. The well 16 includes the usual casing 20 which is cemented to the sides of the well 16 by conventional cement 22.

A production tubing 24 extends from the offshore platform 10 to a point adjacent the producing formation 18. Perforations 26 have been made through the casing 20, cement 22, and into the producing formation 18. A packer 28 is formed about the production tubing 24. Thus, the flow of oil and gas is directed from the producing formation 18, through perforations 26, and up the producing tubing 24.

Casing 20 and production tubing 24 extend from the well -16 upwardly and through wells or openings within the platform 10.

The oil and gas produced from the producing formation 18 is conducted from production tubing 24 through an oil and gas conduit 30 to an oil and gas separator 32 where the oils and gases are separated. The oil is conducted from the separator 32 through an oil conduit 34 controlled by valve 36 The gases flow overhead through overhead line 38 controlled by valve 40.

An oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve 42 controls the flow of fluids through the fiowline 30. The diaphragm valve 42 is held open by the pressure of gas against the diaphragm contained in the housing shown schematically at 44. Upon release of the gas pressure, the valve 42 is closed to shut off further production through oil and gas fiowline 30.

The gas for operating the diaphragm valve 42 may be provided by a pilot gas line 46 extending from the separator 32 to the diaphragm housing '44. The flow of pilot gas to diaphragm valve 42 is controlled by an electrically ope-rated valve such as a solenoid valve 48. Solenoid valve 48 is a three-way valve, and not only controls the flow of gases through pilot gas line 46, but also controls a bleed line 50, which is opened by operation of the solenoid valve.

The solenoid valve 48 is operated to open the bleed line 50 and shut off flow of pilot gas from separator 32 to diaphragm valve 42 by means of an electrical circuit including a voltage source such as battery 52, a remotely operated electric switch, such as electric relay 54 and, if desired, a manual switch 56, which is normally closed. Photosensitive electric cells 58 and 60 are mounted on the platform 10 and may be diametrically opposite one another. Two photo cells are shown in the drawing. However, in actual practice, probably two more cells will be mounted opposite one another and spaced from cells 58 and 60. The photo cells 58 and 60 are connected in parallel and, when actuated by polarized light, serve to close the relay 54 so that current is fed to solenoid valve 48. Polarized lenses (not shown) are included in the photo cells 58 and 60 so that only a particular polarized light will actuate the relay 54.

Located on the power gas line 46 between diaphragm valve 42 and solenoid valve 48 is a three-way diaphragm valve 62. A bleed line 64 is opened by operation of the three-way diaphragm valve 62. A branch pilot gas line 66 extends from the main pilot gas line 46 to the three-way diaphragm valve-diaphragm housing 68. The three-way valve 62 is normally in a position to permit the flow of gas through line 46 to diaphragm valve 44 to maintain valve 44 open. However, when solenoid valve 48 is actuated to open its bleed line 50 and close the flow of gases through line 46, the gases in line 46 downstream from solenoid valve 48 bleed through bleed line 50 to close the diaphragm valve 62 and open bleed line 64. Thus, any gases remaining in line 46 between three-way diaphragm valve 62 and diaphragm valve 44 bleed from bleed line 64.

, As an example of one manner of operation of this invention, assume that a fire has occurred and the pumper has left the platform in his helicopter or boat without shutting otf the diaphragm valve 42. The helicopter is provided with a light of proper polarity to actuate the photo cells. The provision of four photo cells (two of which are not shown in the figure) permits the pumper to fly or head into the wind and yet actuate a photo cell. The impingement of polarized light on the photo cell closes relay 54 and actuates the solenoid valve 48 to shut off further flow of pilot gas to the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve 44 and opens the solenoid valve bleed line 50 so that pilot gas remaining downstream from the solenoid valve 50 bleeds from the bleed line. The bleeding of pilot gas through bleed line 50 closes the three-way diaphragm valve 62 and opens bleed line 64 to remove any pilot gas remaining between valve 62 and diaphragm housing 44. The three-way diaphragm valve 62 remains in the bleed position and must be manually reset before the system can be reactivated. Thus, the provision of the three-way diaphragm valve 62 prevents the unintentional opening of the diaphragm valve 42.

3 Such unintentional opening could happen, for example, if a failure of the electrical system resulting in the discontinuance of the feeding of current to solenoid valve 48 occurs. This failure would cause solenoid valve 48 to open the pilot line 46, resulting in the flow of pilot gas to diaphragm housing 44 and the opening of valve 42.

I claim:

1. A remote control system for shutting off production of oils and gases from an offshore oil and gas well comprising, in combination: a gas-oil separator; an oil and gas conduit extending from the well to the separator; an oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve in said oil and gas conduit for controlling the flow of oil and gas from the well to the separator; a pilot gas line extending from the separator to said diaphragm valve; a three-way solenoid valve in said pilot gas line for controlling the flow of gas in the pilot line, one of said ways being a first bleed line opened by operation of the solenoid valve; an electrical circuit for actuating the solenoid valve including a voltage source, a polarized light sensitive electric cell, and a relay actuated by the impingement of light of the proper polarization upon the electric cell to electrically connect the voltage source with the solenoid valve; a three-way diaphragm valve positioned in the pilot gas line between the oil and gas flow control valve and the solenoid valve, one of said ways being a second bleed line opened by operation of the three-Way diaphragm valve; and a branch pilot gas line connected to the pilot gas line and to the diaphragm of the three-way diaphragm valve for control of the threeway diaphragm valve, whereby when polarized light is impinged on the electric cell, the solenoid valve is actuated to shut off further flow of pilot gas to the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve and to the three-way diaphragm valve, and open the first bleed line so that pilot gas remaining downstream from the solenoid valve bleeds from said bleed line to close the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve, and the three-way diaphragm valve, thus opening the second bleed line to permit any pilot gas downstream from the three-way diaphragm valve to bleed ofl.

2. A remote control system for shutting off production of oils and gases from an offshore oil and gas well comprising, in combination: a gas-oil separator; an oil and gas conduit extending from the well to the separator; an oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve in said oil and gas conduit for controlling How of oil and gas from the Well to the separator; a pilot gas line extending from the separator to said diaphragm valve; a three-way solenoid valve in said pilot gas line for controlling the flow of gas in the pilot line, one of said ways being a bleed line opened by operation of the solenoid valve; an electrical circuit for actuating the solenoid valve including a voltage source, a polarized light sensitive electric cell, and a relay actuated by the impingement of light of the proper polarization upon the electric cell to electrically connect the voltage source with the solenoid valve, whereby when polarized light is impinged on the electric cell, the solenoid valve is actuated to shut oif further flow of pilot gas to the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve, and open said bleed line so that pilot gas remaining downstream from the solenoid valve bleeds from said bleed line to close the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve.

3. A remote control system for shutting oil production of oils and gases from an offshore oil and gas well comprising, in combination: a gas-oil separator; an oil and gas conduit extending from the well to the separator; an oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve in said oil and gas conduit for controlling the flow of oil and gas from the well to the separator; a pilot gas line extending from the separator to said diaphragm valve; an electrically operated three-way valve in said pilot gas line for controlling the flow of gas in the pilot line, one of said ways being a bleed line opened by operation of the valve; an electrical circuit for actuating said valve including a polarized light sensitive electric cell, whereby when polarized light is impinged on the electric cell, the electrically operated valve is actuated to shut off further flow of pilot gas to the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve, and open said bleed line so that pilot gas remaining downstream from the electrically operated valve bleeds from said bleed line to close the oil and gas flow control diaphragm valve.

4. A remote control system for shutting off flow through a fluid flowline comprising: a fluid flow control diaphragm valve in the fiowline; a gas line for controlling said diaphragm valve; a three-way electrically operated valve in said gas line for controlling the flow of gas in the gas line, one of said ways being a bleed line opened by operation of the electrically operated valve; an electrical circuit for actuating the valve including a polarized light sensitive electric cell whereby upon actuation of said electrical circuit, the electrically operated valve shuts off the flow of gas to the control diaphragm valve and opens the bleed line to bleed the gas remaining in the gas line, thus closing the flow control diaphragm valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,273 Schoeifel et al Nov. 26, 1901 2,326,442 De Wit Aug. 10, 1943 2,800,138 Peters et al July 23, 1957 2,882,914 Wiley et al. Apr. 21, 1959 

